20,000 saplings to be planted

Dharwad: The district administration will plant 20,000 saplings in Dharwad district this monsoon.

Participating at the 'Vanamahotsava' jointly organized by the State Bank of India, Hubli-Dharwad Nagarika Parisara Samiti and the forest department here on Sunday, DC Darpan Jain said 1,000 saplings each will be planted in Hubli and Dharwad while 6,000 saplings would be planted in rural areas. Jain expressed his concern over the fall in the survival rate of the saplings which are planted along the roadside and advised the concerned to protect the planted trees at least for first 2-3 years.

The deputy commissioner also appealed to the business organizations, banks, NGOs and the general public to extend financial help for getting tree-guards and help the district administration in its efforts to keep the green-belt intact. Lamenting over the alarming depletion in the ground water level, Darpan Jain said more stress should be given to rain water harvesting.

"Eco system should be maintained. Any imbalance caused to this will affect the entire system", he cautioned.

SBI deputy general manager Venugopal Reddy handed over a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to the deputy commissioner as Bank's contribution towards planting of 2,000 saplings and supplying providing tree-guards.